In line with
EU Directive 2009/136/EC, please note that a cookie will be stored on your device. If you accept it, the system will remember your language preference for future website visits in the next year; if you refuse it, your language preference will be recorded for this visit only. The cookie will be used simply to store your language preference and will not retain any personal data.

Follow us

Newsletter

Who are we

Document Item

Page Image

Page Content

23/09/2016

​Seaports are a key part of the EU’s trade network. Between2000 and 2013, the EU invested 6.8 billion euros in ports. Wefound that the port development strategies put in place bythe Member States and the Commission did not provideenough information to allow effective capacity planning tobe carried out. This had led to EU co-financed investmentsin port infrastructure being ineffective and unsustainable,with a high risk of around 400 million euros invested beingwasted. Road and rail connections to port hinterlands wereoften missing or inadequate, meaning that further publicfunding will be needed to make the initial port investmentswork well. We also found that the Commission had nottaken the necessary action in the area of state aid andcustoms procedures to allow ports to compete on a levelplaying field.

Special report No 23/2016:Maritime transport in the EU: in troubled waters — much ineffective and unsustainable investment